The Great Blue Heron

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As the temperatures drop in Southern Ontario, local birds plan to take flight.  The Great Blue Heron, which nests along the shores of the Grand River, is one such bird.  Measuring 1 meter high and 2.5 kilograms, the Great Blue Heron is the largest of its kind in Canada.  Tens of thousands breed in every province except Newfoundland & Labrador.  The Great Blue Heron is a patient creature which waits patiently for its prey, mainly small fish which it can grab, stuff into its beak and gullet in one fell swoop.  Eagles are its chief enemy while crows ravens and gulls may attack its babies.  While the Great Blue Heron is plentiful at the moment, drained marshes threaten its habitat.  In autumn, the Great Blue Heron migrates in groups of three to 12, but sometimes as large as 100.  It travels day and night until it reaches its destination of Mexico or South America.

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